Not Without Your Presence

There are some things in life we can afford to lose, but the presence of God is not one of them.

In Exodus 33, God told Moses that Israel could still go forward into the land He had promised. The blessing was still available. The inheritance was still ahead. An angel would even go before them. But God said His presence would not go with them. For Moses, that changed everything.

His response was powerful: “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” In other words, Moses was saying, “I would rather stay in the wilderness with You than step into the promise without You.”

That is a message we still need today.

It is possible to have movement without His presence. It is possible to have activity, blessing, success, opportunity, and even open doors — but still miss what matters most. The presence of God is not an accessory to the Christian life. It is an essential.

God has always desired to dwell among His people. From the garden of Eden to the tabernacle, from the temple to the infilling of the Holy Ghost, His desire has been relationship. He does not simply want to bless us from a distance; He wants to walk with us, lead us, fill us, and live in us.

But His presence must be valued and protected.

Holiness matters because God is holy. Obedience matters because love for God is proven in surrender. Prayer matters because it keeps our hearts sensitive and our lives connected to God. Worship matters because praise makes room for God to dwell. Unity matters because God moves among people who come together in one accord.

We cannot treat the presence of God casually and expect to carry it continually.

Every decision, every relationship, every step forward should come with the prayer, “Lord, go with me.” Into our homes, our jobs, our families, our challenges, our plans, and our promised places — we need His presence.

Blessings are wonderful. Miracles are powerful. Open doors are exciting. But none of them can replace Him. Our prayer must become the cry of Moses: Lord, if You do not go with us, we do not want to go. Not without Your presence.

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Family Worship Center | 1 Restoration Way, Plaster Rock NB | familyworship.ca

Recap of message by Missionary Toufic Azar